WT/MIN(21)/INF/3  
 
15 September  2021 
(21-6860) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth S ession  
Geneva, 30 Novemb er-3 December  2021  Original: French  
 
  
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO SWITZERLAND   
Please find below a communication from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations 
Office and to the other international organi zations in Geneva.   
 
_______________  
 
 
This information note applies only to delegates expected in an official capacity in the context of the 
12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to take place from 
30 November to 3 December 2021 in Genev a, Switzerland.  
 
To be considered as a "delegate expected in an official capacity ", each person must satisfy one or 
more of the following conditions : 
 
• be the holder of a diplomatic, service, special or official passport;  
• be in possession of a note verbale or a mission order from his/her sending State;  
• be in possession of a letter of invitation bearing his/her name issued by the WTO.  
 
The Swiss authorities will endeavour to facilitate the issuance of visas/laissez -passer as a matter of 
priority and as quickly as possible, as needed, in accordance with the Schengen regulations and 
COVID -19 rules in force.  
 
Depending on developments in the health s ituation and the related rules, this note may be subject 
to updating.  
 
*** 
 
Who needs a visa ? The visa requirement depends mainly on nationality and type of passport. It is 
the applicant’s responsibility to fulfil the visa obligation prior to arrival in Sw itzerland . For further 
information on who is subject to the visa requirement, please consult the webpage indicated below.1 
 
Where can I apply for a visa? Visas for travel to Switzerland are mainly issued by the Swiss 
representation (embassy or consulate) responsible for covering the applicant’s country of residence. 
For further information on the Swiss representation responsible for covering the applicant’s country 
of residence, please consult the webpage indicated below.2 
 
What are the applicable deadlin es? The processing time for a visa application varies according to 
local conditions. Persons subject to the visa requirement must:  
 
i. make an appointment as soon as possible with the representation responsible (at least 
20 days but not more than six months b efore departure); and  
 
 
1 https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/publiservice/weisungen -
kreisschreiben/visa/liste1_staatsangehoerigkeit.html . 
2 https://www.swiss -visa.ch/ivis2/#/i210 -select -country   WT/MIN(21)/INF/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  ii. submit their visa application with all the required documents. It is essential that the visa 
application be submitted no later than 15 days before the intended date of departure so 
as to ensure sufficient processing time. In view of the COVID -19 situation, processing 
times may be extended.  
 
Processing of the application will begin only after it has been registered electronically. A complete 
file of all required documents is needed for registration. Any incomplete file may delay the pr ocessing 
of the application and in some cases result in the visa not being issued in time for the planned date 
of travel.  
 
Which documents are required? In principle, only the following documents are required to make an 
application for a type C (official visit) visa:  
  
• A Schengen visa application form3, duly completed and signed by the applicant;  
• A travel document recognized by Switzerland (valid for at least three months beyond 
the expected date of departure from Switzerland and issued less th an 10 years ago) and 
a copy thereof;  
• A recent passport photograph;  
• A note verbale or a mission order from the sending State, and/or a letter of invitation 
bearing the applicant 's name issued by the WTO;  
• A travel health insurance certificate valid in the St ates signatory to the Schengen 
Agreement and providing minimum coverage of 30,000 euros (€) (only for holders of 
regular passports). Any insurance that excludes benefits related to COVID -19 will not be 
accepted;  
• If necessary, a valid residence permit or ot her equivalent document (for example, an 
exit or re -entry visa) ensuring that the applicant is allowed to return to his/her country 
of residence.  
 
Who is subject to the biometric data requirement? Switzerland applies the Schengen European 
regulations conce rning the issuance of visas, which requires, inter alia, the recording of biometric 
data in the Visa Information System (VIS). This involves the taking of fingerprints and a photograph. 
The applicant therefore has to appear in person to provide his/her bio metric data, which will be 
recorded and remain valid in the VIS for five years. Heads of State, incumbent ministers and their 
accompanying delegations are exempt from the requirement to provide biometric data.  
 
Further information on the conditions of entr y into Switzerland can be found on:  
 
• The website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM);4 
• The "visas" webpage of the Swiss Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.5 
 
*** 
 
For the specific rules regarding the COVID -19 situation, please refer to the following two documents 
published on the website of the Swiss Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. These two documents 
are updated regularly:  
 
1. Visas and laissez -passer : "COVID -19: Information note on rules of entry into 
Switzerland"6  
 
➔ For delegates who are third -country nationals subject to the principle of a ban on entry 
currently in force, an exception regarding "Urgent official visits resulting from Switzerland’s 
international obligations " applies (see under "Delegates and official v isits" in the 
above -mentioned document).  
 
 
3 https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise/visumantragsformular.html . 
4 https:/ /www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise.html . 
5 https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission -onu-geneve/e n/home/manual -regime -privileges -and-
immunities/introduction/manual -visas.html . 
6 https://www.eda.admin.ch /dam/mission -onu-omc-aele-geneve/en/documents/COVID -19-Information -
for-people -travelling -to-Switzerland_EN.pdf . WT/MIN(21)/INF/3  
 
- 3 - 
 
  ➔ At present, any person wishing to travel to Switzerland must enquire about boarding 
requirements and, if necessary, obtain a laissez -passer from the Swiss representation 
responsible for covering the person’s place of residence confirming that his/her entry into 
Switzerland complies with the COVID -19 rules in force.  
 
2. Data collection, testing and quarantine: "COVID -19: Information note on health 
measures and border controls "7. 
 
_______________  
 
 
7 https://www.eda.admin.ch/dam/mission -onu-omc-aele-geneve/en/documents/COVID -19-Information -
Sheet -on-health -measures -and-border -controls_EN.pdf .